A Free Family Weekend of Music, Crafts and Storytelling comes to St Barbe Museum

Inspire Weekend returns on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 September.

Families are in for a treat this September as St Barbe Museum opens its doors to provide two full days of free music, crafts, theatre and creativity for everyone to enjoy. The museum on New Street, Lymington will be open from 10am to 4pm on both days, and there's no need to book.

Live acoustic music will be enjoyed as you relax on the terrace with coffee and home baked cake. This year’s local musicians include Carley Varley, John Burke, Paul Kinvig and Ellie Evans who will entertain you with popular favourites and chilled-out classics. Families with children can get stuck into hands-on crafts, follow storytelling sessions with the team from Lung and a Half Full and crack the code on a treasure hunt to discover what's locked inside Paddington's suitcase. A stilt walker and plenty of bubbles add to the fun.

The two days each have their own flavour, so there's every reason to come to both. On Saturday, New Forest Transition leads an apple-themed craft day all about avoiding food waste, with edible apple faces and pipecleaner caterpillars to make. There will also be a circus skills workshop to enjoy. Sunday includes more craft opportunities as our volunteers help children make Elmer the Patchwork Elephant finger-knitted elephants, friendship bracelets and milk-jug Elmers to take home. You can also help us try to make our own very big, very hungry caterpillar in our community art project.

At the heart of the weekend is the art gallery, where a curated display of original artwork by David McKee is on show. McKee created Elmer and Mr Benn and illustrated some of the much-loved Paddington Bear books. Grown-ups who grew up with these characters can see the real artwork up close and new for 2026 the Sketch@StBarbe activity invites visitors to pick up a pencil and copy the work as a calm, mindful way to look more closely and enjoy the art on display. The museum is open too, telling the story of Lymington's smuggling and shipbuilding past.

 "We know some people think museums and art galleries aren't for them and Inspire Weekend is our chance to change that. Whether you're a regular visitor or stepping through our doors for the very first time, we want everyone to feel welcome and inspired. With a different programme of activities on each day, we'd encourage families to come along to both and enjoy everything on offer" - Penny Curry, Marketing St Barbe Museum.

The Inspire Weekend is one of the highlights of our year because it's all about bringing people together to discover something new. Best of all, it's completely free, with activities and experiences for everyone – from toddlers and teenagers to parents and grandparents.  The café will be serving tea, coffee and delicious bakes all weekend, with marmalade cake added to the menu to celebrate the last days of our David McKee exhibition.  See our social media for full programme (nearer the time), entry is free and nothing needs booking,